Brake adjuster



Jan. 28, 1941. R R, DlMQNT 2,229,919

BRAKE ADJUSTER Filed may 1e, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 [n venor By @Mm omeyJan. 28, 1941. R. R` DlMONT 2,229,919

BRAKE ADJUSTER Filed May 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 By hm/23:@

orney imatented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES BRAKE ADJUSTER Richard R.Dimont, Altaniahaw, N. C.

Application May 16,

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements inhydraulic brake adjusters particularly for motor vehicles and has forits primary object to provide, in a manner as herein- 5 after set forth,novel means for automatically lli Fir

adjusting the shoes in a manner to compensate tor Wear as it occurs onthe linings.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide anautomatic brake adjuster of the aforementioned character comprisingnovel auxiliary means for securing the `brakes in adjusted position inthe event that the primary mechanism for performing this function shouldfail.

@ther objects of the invention are to provide an automatic brakeadjuster of the character described which will be comparatively simplein construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use,compact and which may be manuiactured and installed at low cost.

all of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure i is a view in side elevation of a hydraulic brake equipped withan automatic adluster constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3of Fig. l.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through the device, takensubstantially on the line t-d oi Fig. d.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of one oi the adjusting rods.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of an end portion of one oi thebrake shoes.

Figure 7 is a detail View in perspective of one oi the clutch members.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that thereference numeral I designates the stationary back plate of a hydraulicvehicle brake. Fivotally mounted, as at 2, on the lower portion of theplate l is a pair of shoes 3. The iaces oi the shoes i are provided withthe usual linings d. The free upper ends of the shoes i are operativelyconnected to a conventional hy draulic operating mechanism 5. A returnspring t retracts or releases the shoes 3.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustratedcomprises a tubular 1940, Serial No. 335,607

(Cl. 18S-79.5)

housing 1 of suitable metal which is secured on the plate i in ahorizontal position beneath the hydraulic cylinder 5. Any suitable meansmay be provided for attaching the housing 'I to the plate l, such asbrackets or ears 8. The tubular housing 'I is closed at its ends, as at9, and is further provided, at longitudinally spaced points, withpartitions I0. Further, spaced openings Il are provided in the tubularhousing 1. A single metallic closure I2 of arcuate cross section isprovided for the openings II, said closure being secured to the housing'l by a screw I3.

Mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment in the tubular housing 'land projecting from the ends thereof is a pair of rods i4. It will beobserved that the rods I`4 pass slidably through the end walls 9 and thepartitions i0 of the tubular housing 1. Fixed on the outer end portionsof the rods it are ratchet bars I5. Suitable pins or the like `itplvotally connect the ratchet bars I5 to the shoes 3.v As shown toadvantage in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings, the openings i'i in theshoes ii which accommodate the pivots IB are in the form oi slotsallowing sufiicient play to permit said shoes 3 to release.

Mounted on the rods id in the tubular housing 'i are clutch members idfor securing said rods in adjusted position. One end portion of theclutch members it bears against the inner end walls or the openings ilfor coking said clutch members in a manner to irictionally grip the-rodsid. The clutch members it are cocked in this manv ner through the mediumof coil springs It mounted on the rods iii and engaged with the endwalls t and the partitions it of the tubular housing li.

Fivotally mounted on the ends 9 oi" the tubular housing 'i are pawls itwhich are operatively en gageable with the ratchet bars it forpositively securing the rods it against retraction. Springs il areconnected to the pivoted ends oi the pawls 2li for yieldingly engagingsaid pawls with the ratchet bars it.

it is thought that the operation oi the device will be readily apparentfrom a. consideration of the foregoing. The brakes are applied in theusual manner by the conventional means including the hydraulic cylindert, the openings or slots il, as hereinbeiore explained, permittingsufiicient movement of the shoes ii, under ordinary conditions, withoutmoving the rods id. However, when sufficient wear on the linings 4 hasoccurred to necessitate movement of the shoes 3 beyond the distanceallowed by the slots il, the rods I4 are pulled outwardly by said shoesand retained against inward movement by the friction clutch members I8.Thus, the shoes 3A are automatically adjusted to compensate for Wear.The pawls 20 will positively secure the brakes in adjusted positionshould the friction clutch members IB fail for any reason such, forexample, as oil or grease getting on the rods H.

It is believed that the many advantages of an automatic brake adjusterconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to which will fall Within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a. vehicle brake including a back plate and shoes pivotallymounted thereon, an adjuster comprising a substantially tubular housingmounted horizontally on the back plate between the Shoes, rods mountedfor longitudinal sliding adjustment in the housing and projecting fromthe endsthereof, ratchet bars mounted on the outer end portions of therods and pivotally connected to the shoes, and spring pressed pawlspivotally mounted on the end portions of the housing and engageable withsaid ratchet bars for securing the rods against inward sliding movement.

2. In a brake comprising aback plate and shoes pivotally mountedthereon, an adjuster including a substantially tubular housing mounted.horizontally on the back plate between the shoes, rods l0 mounted forlongitudinal sliding movement in the housing and projecting from theends thereof, ratchet bars xed on the outer end portions of the rods andpivotally connected to the shoes, clutch members mounted on the rods inthe housing for frictionally securing said rods against inward slidingmovement, coil springs mounted on the rods and engaged with the clutchmembers for binding said clutch members on said rods, and spring pressedpawls pivotally mounted on the end portions of the housing and engagedwith the ratchet bars for positively securing the rods against inwardsliding movement in the event of failure of the clutch members. y

RICHARD R. DIMONT.

